Annual Review
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Annual Review 2017/ 2018 20 Eastbourne Terrace, London. THE BRITISH COUNCIL FOR Courtesy of Fletcher Priest Architects OFFICES’ (BCO) MISSION IS TO RESEARCH, DEVELOP AND COMMUNICATE BEST PRACTICE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE OFFICE SECTOR. IT DELIVERS THIS BY PROVIDING A FORUM FOR THE DISCUSSION AND DEBATE OF RELEVANT ISSUES. 6 8 THE YEAR IN RESEARCH NUMBERS & POLICY ANNUAL REVIEW CONTENTS 0-1 ANNUAL REVIEW 2 4 2017/18 HIGHLIGHTS CHIEF OF THE EXECUTIVE’S PRESIDENTIAL FOREWORD YEAR 14 18 28 REGIONAL NETWORKING BCO ANNUAL ROUNDUP & EVENTS CONFERENCE 32 36 BCO AWARDS NEXTGEN One vital component of the BCO’s Annual Conference (and more on Berlin 2018 to follow) is our desire to look at the broader context. The office sector will only thrive if those who lead it – represented so effectively by the excellence of the BCO’s membership – recognise and take account of what is around them. As what would once have been considered the norm shifts – be it environmental constraints, social attitudes or patterns or work – so must the provision of office space. Against the backdrop of continuing uncertainty on the Brexit question, it’s perhaps remarkable that the UK economy has escaped, so far at least, relatively unscathed. Yes, the fundamental question of what type of Brexit (if indeed there is a Brexit) Britain ends up with remains unanswered, but we will continue to build some of the very best buildings one could hope to see. All of this is reflected through the BCO’s Awards Competition, where the quality of the projects entered across the length and breadth of the UK continues to rise each year. I record here my thanks to Nigel Clark, the Chairman of the National Judges, and all the judges at a national and regional level, for working so hard to maintain the prestige of the BCO’s Awards Competition. CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S FOREWORD On the theme of thanks, I am and planning is underway guise in early 2019) and an Media Manager, has raised 2-3 hugely grateful to Katrina for the 2019 Design extensive catalogue of ad hoc the BCO’s game significantly. Kostic Samen for chairing our Competition. For my own projects, the BCO’s research Camillia Huygens is a very Annual Conference in Berlin part, a particular pleasure programme rightly remains welcomed addition to the ANNUAL in May. The BCO’s first visit is to see NextGen members market-leading. team as our new Team REVIEW to that fine city was way back integrated into every aspect Assistant, and my PA, 2017/18 in 2001 and much, of course, of the BCO – from the The continued success of Tracy Goodwin, continues has changed since then. Board of Management, the BCO is a consequence to work tirelessly to keep “Inclusion and Diversity” through to the conference, of collective effort, and I am not just me but the BCO’s was the guiding theme for all Awards Competition and enormously grateful to the membership in order. elements of the conference, expert committees – and many members who do so which was enormously every encouragement from much. Supporting Katrina The last word must, successful not just in securing our more senior members as our new President will without question, go to a large increase in the to involve their younger be Paul Patenall as the new our President for 2017-18, number of female delegates, colleagues in our work would Senior Vice President, and Ken Shuttleworth. Ken is an but also in embracing the be much appreciated. Robin Brodie Cooper as the architect of very rare quality industry’s future leaders, our new Junior Vice President. and it has been a privilege Next Gen members (again, The BCO’s research Robin, of course, served the for us to have him as our a record number). Katrina programme remains at the BCO with distinction for President. Ken’s involvement becomes the BCO’s new heart of all that we do. June many years as the Honorary with the BCO goes back President for 2018-19, and 2018 saw the publication of Treasurer, now succeeded over twenty years and has I wish her every success for Wellness Matters, a year-long by James Clark, to whom been reflected in many BCO her presidential year. study looking at the question I am very grateful. I am activities, not least his time of health and wellbeing in also very grateful to my as a National Awards Judge The success of the NextGen offices and, to put it bluntly – own team who manage our and chairing our Annual Group – now led by Carl what to do about it. In a field ever-expanding range of Conference in London in Giles – is down to the where there is perhaps more activities in an exemplary 2017. Always willing to help, enthusiasm and energy of all heat than light, the market fashion. Kat Balassa leads always working for the best, concerned, and NextGen now has reacted very positively for us on Communications collective interests of the represent over one fifth of indeed to our efforts in and Events, supported by BCO, and always with a smile, the entire membership (itself identifying the fundamentals. Anneka Vasheast, Sam we have been very fortunate fast approaching 3,000). Add to this the ongoing Robinson and Bryony indeed that Ken has given the Reflecting this, the NextGen revision of the BCO Guide to George (promoted from BCO so much, and I record Awards Dinner moves to a Specification (which will be Team Assistant). Arezou here my sincere thanks. new, larger venue for 2018, published in its new online Said continues to drive our research programme, and RICHARD KAUNTZE Chané Scallan, our new Social BCO Chief Executive “IT WAS SUCH AN HONOUR – AND RATHER SURPRISING – TO BE ASKED TO BE JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BCO BACK IN 2015, BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY A NO-BRAINER TO SAY YES. I REALISED THAT I FELT QUITE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ORGANISATION I HAVE BEEN PART OF SINCE 1994. ” HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL YEAR This last year as president has been a whirlwind. Following the priority was to make it digital – in order for it to be a useful tool 4-5 2017 ‘London Refocused’ conference and that memory-making for everyone from architects to commercial agents on the ground. talk by Lord Foster, I felt inspired to try and make a difference To be in a design meeting and be able to pull up an app or to scroll to the way the BCO is perceived. It has suffered from a ‘stuffy’ through on a tablet will have a huge impact on making it a more ANNUAL reputation, but whilst I believe the work, particularly of the relevant tool. REVIEW ever-growing NextGen membership, is going a long way to change 2017/18 that, there is still some way to go. We have to remain relevant if Finally, I’d urge the BCO to look beyond its borders. In so many the BCO is continue. That was part of the reasoning behind the ways the world is virtually without boundaries and we have so President’s Survey I commissioned. The BCO has to represent all much to learn from the way offices are being designed in other its members if it is to be truly successful. The feedback – from BCO regions around the world. We have a hub of talent in the UK and members – was incredibly instructive, and I was so pleased that we the BCO has a duty to keep its community up to speed with best had such a strong response from the regional chapters. A number practice from around the world; we can’t just be UK-centric any of common themes surfaced, from which we formulated four more, especially with the uncertainties of the global economy key recommendations that we presented to the board: and a rapidly approaching Brexit. 1) Increase ethnic and gender diversity All that’s left is for me to say a huge thank you to Richard Kauntze, 2) Explore avenues of greater global engagement and all those who work tirelessly at the BCO, for their support, guidance and passion. Thank you, too, to Katrina Kostic Samen 3) Increase consultation with members for already inspiring us to try harder. I have no doubt she will 4) Increase use of technology, including digitisation be a wonderful president in continuing to take forward the of the BCO Guide to Specification recommendations of our survey and driving forward our industry. I feel like we are already on track with a number of these points And to you, our members: you are the backbone of the BCO and I’m so glad that Katrina Kostic Samen has chosen to focus and are what makes our UK industry one of the most envied on diversity as a central point for her year as president. It’s so in the world. Keep striving to exceed standards, to make incredible important, and whilst the debate around gender equality has places to work, to develop buildings that give back. Thank you permeated virtually every part of society in some form or another, for your continued investment in the BCO. I’d call for our property sector to also think beyond purely male- to-female ratios and widen the diversity debate to include social KEN SHUTTLEWORTH mobility. I truly feel that if there is a way to effectively bridge the BCO President 2017/2018 education and cost barriers for those from socio-economically Founding Director, Make Architects disadvantaged backgrounds, a lot of the issues we have in property and architecture will begin to resolve themselves.